NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 29 Apr 2024, 03:10 It is currently 29 Apr 2024, 03:10
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
 1   2   
Tags:
Find Similar Topics 
Show Tags
Hide Tags
User avatar
ksung84
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Sep 2011
Posts: 15
Own Kudos [?]: 721 [64]
Given Kudos: 52
Send PM
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   13 Aug 2013, 12:13
12
Kudos
52
Bookmarks
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

76% (01:44) correct 24% (01:42) wrong based on 2316 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold

Show Spoiler
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg16722563-900-wipe-out/

IN BRIEF
16 September 2000
Wipe out

TRACES of ancient river beds in the Karoo basin of South Africa show that land plants took a heavy hit during Earth’s greatest mass extinction.

At the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, 95 per cent of species were wiped out and Europe became a desert (New Scientist, 4 December 1999, p 17). Now geologists have found that streams in the Karoo changed suddenly at the same time, from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas lacking deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

Something killed plants throughout the region, causing rapid soil erosion, Peter Ward of the University of Washington reports in Science (vol 289, p 1740). He suggests extinctions on land may have preceded those at sea, but the underlying cause remains a mystery.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
B
kinjiGC
Director
Director
Joined: 03 Feb 2013
Posts: 797
Own Kudos [?]: 2588 [17]
Given Kudos: 567
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
Schools: Tepper '17 (M$) W.P. Carey '17 (A$) NUS '17 (A)
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.88
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   27 Apr 2014, 11:50
14
Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold - Looks good.

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding - Parallelism issue - From X to Y. X and Y should be parallel.

(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding - it is makes the option more wordy. It doesn't have an antecedent and acts as a placeholder which is not really required. - Incorrect

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding -
Same issue as that of Option C)

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold - being - Indicates that it is happening right now. incorrect.

One more thing.
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea to keep me awake at night.
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea for keeping me awake at night.

2nd option doesn't provide the intent hence for keeping is not the correct usage. This is one more issue with "For holding" in Option B,C and D.


I am not sure if shifting is incorrect.

I changed my books orientation, shifting from bookshelf placed in my bedroom to bookshelf placed in my living room.

Shifting is verbing modifier provides more info about I changed my books.

And If I break the sentences in clauses:

Geologists have found
that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago
shifting from X to Y.
So the subject of the verbing modifier is still streams and shifting can be tagged to the subject and it makes sense.

I don't think "shifting" is a issue here.
General Discussion
User avatar
maaadhu
Manager
Manager
Joined: 04 Apr 2013
Posts: 96
Own Kudos [?]: 177 [4]
Given Kudos: 36
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   13 Aug 2013, 12:57
2
Kudos
2
Bookmarks
ksung84 wrote:
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold
(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold


+1 if you like the question :-D



A is the correct answer

2 points are tested in this question i.e. Idiom (From X To Y) and Parallelism

B, C, & E use the correct idiom From X to Y but violate parallelism. X & Y are not parallel.

D has modifier error. The verb-inf modifier "Shifting from ...." either has to present the result of the first statement or provide additional information about the first clause. It does neither rather explain how the transformation took place.
avatar
benguy
Intern
Intern
Joined: 10 Sep 2012
Posts: 20
Own Kudos [?]: 39 [0]
Given Kudos: 2
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   13 Aug 2013, 19:55
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold
best

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
they is ambiguous

(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
wordy and not parallel

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
wordy

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold
wordy


+1 if you like the question :-D
User avatar
gmatter0913
Manager
Manager
Joined: 12 Mar 2010
Posts: 219
Own Kudos [?]: 1217 [0]
Given Kudos: 86
Concentration: Marketing, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V34
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   04 Mar 2014, 05:43
Is there any difference in meaning among the following sentences?

Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.
User avatar
TGC
Director
Director
Joined: 03 Aug 2012
Posts: 587
Own Kudos [?]: 3157 [0]
Given Kudos: 322
Concentration: General Management, General Management
Schools: ISB '16 NUS '17 NTU '17 XLRI SMU '17 IIM Lucknow IPMX'16 (A)
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V29
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V32
GPA: 3.7
WE:Information Technology (Investment Banking)
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2014, 05:28
I was stumped too on this one.

Verb modifiers can be placed anywhere.

From X to Y is a verb modifier modifying 'changed suddenly' how streams changed?
User avatar
B
PiyushK
Director
Director
Joined: 22 Mar 2013
Status:Everyone is a leader. Just stop listening to others.
Posts: 611
Own Kudos [?]: 4598 [0]
Given Kudos: 235
Location: India
GPA: 3.51
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   21 Jun 2014, 08:40
applying POE to get the answer.

Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold
(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding
(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold
avatar
junkostem
Intern
Intern
Joined: 20 Jul 2013
Posts: 41
Own Kudos [?]: 161 [0]
Given Kudos: 57
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   22 Jun 2014, 02:15
kinjiGC wrote:
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold - Looks good.

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding - Parallelism issue - From X to Y. X and Y should be parallel.

(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding - it is makes the option more wordy. It doesn't have an antecedent and acts as a placeholder which is not really required. - Incorrect

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding -
Same issue as that of Option C)

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold - being - Indicates that it is happening right now. incorrect.

One more thing.
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea to keep me awake at night.
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea for keeping me awake at night.

2nd option doesn't provide the intent hence for keeping is not the correct usage. This is one more issue with "For holding" in Option B,C and D.


I am not sure if shifting is incorrect.

I changed my books orientation, shifting from bookshelf placed in my bedroom to bookshelf placed in my living room.

Shifting is verbing modifier provides more info about I changed my books.

And If I break the sentences in clauses:

Geologists have found
that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago
shifting from X to Y.
So the subject of the verbing modifier is still streams and shifting can be tagged to the subject and it makes sense.

I don't think "shifting" is a issue here.


Shifting is incorrect because is it redundant. Change is already mentioned earlier, so that makes the addtion of shifting unnecessarily wordy.
User avatar
L
EducationAisle
CEO
CEO
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
Posts: 3675
Own Kudos [?]: 3528 [1]
Given Kudos: 149
Location: India
Schools: ISB
GPA: 3.31
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   22 Jun 2014, 22:27
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
kinjiGC wrote:
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea to keep me awake at night.
I prefer drinking coffee to drinking tea for keeping me awake at night.

2nd option doesn't provide the intent hence for keeping is not the correct usage. This is one more issue with "For holding" in Option B,C and D.

Actually this is an interesting observation. While infinitives express intent is generally true, did you notice that you actually used prefer drinking and not prefer to drink.

When two verbs (or verb forms) appear together, the first verb determines whether the second verb will be in the gerund form (-ing form of the verb) or in the infinitive form (to + the basic form of the verb).

For example, let us take the word enjoy. We would always say:

I enjoy swimming.

And not

I enjoy to swim.

p.s. This topic has been discussed in detail in our book. If you can PM me your mail id, I can send the corresponding section to you.
User avatar
B
AdmitJA
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 04 Jul 2014
Posts: 276
Own Kudos [?]: 1137 [0]
Given Kudos: 420
Location: India
GMAT 1: 640 Q44 V34
GMAT 2: 710 Q49 V37
GPA: 3.58
WE:Analyst (Accounting)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   03 Dec 2014, 03:12
Is there a difference between the usage of "from" and "shifting from". If option E was copy paste of option A and had the word shifting in addition, which option would be the correct answer?
User avatar
pqhai
Retired Moderator
Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Posts: 871
Own Kudos [?]: 8557 [4]
Given Kudos: 123
Location: United States
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   03 Dec 2014, 13:09
3
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
joseph0alexander wrote:
Is there a difference between the usage of "from" and "shifting from". If option E was copy paste of option A and had the word shifting in addition, which option would be the correct answer?


Hello joseph0alexander.

D and E are wrong because of redundancy. "shifting" is not necessary. You can look back to the non-underlined portion: ".......streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago......., shifting from X to Y....."

"change" means "shift". In fact, it's a very classical trick used by GMAT. It uses a same meaning word in the non-underlined portion, so if read too fast, we will ignore a small but important point.

Hope it helps.
User avatar
L
BillyZ
Current Student
Joined: 14 Nov 2016
Posts: 1174
Own Kudos [?]: 20726 [0]
Given Kudos: 926
Location: Malaysia
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Sloan '23 (D) Tuck '23 (D) Darden '23 (D) Ross '23 (D) Kellogg '23 (D) Wharton '23 (D) Booth '23 (D) Fuqua '24 (A) Harvard '24 (D) Stanford '24 (D)
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V40 (Online)
GPA: 3.53
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User Reviews Badge
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   01 May 2017, 20:42
ksung84 wrote:
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold


GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo Could you help to explain the different of "to hold" (A) and "for holding" (B) in this problem?
User avatar
L
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Status: GMAT/GRE/LSAT tutors
Posts: 6923
Own Kudos [?]: 63698 [3]
Given Kudos: 1774
Location: United States (CO)
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V46
GMAT 2: 800 Q51 V51
GRE 1: Q170 V170

GRE 2: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   02 May 2017, 08:22
3
Kudos
Expert Reply
Top Contributor
Quote:
GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo Could you help to explain the different of "to hold" (A) and "for holding" (B) in this problem?


Ziyuen, I don't think it's a major issue here. That particular part of the sentence describes the usefulness of the deep-rooted vegetation, and I don't think that "for holding" is necessarily wrong in this case. "To hold" is probably a little bit better, since "for holding" seems to imply some sort of specific design or intent -- and that's probably not ideal here. But I wouldn't automatically dismiss "for holding" in this particular sentence.

Not coincidentally, it's a non-issue in the sentence. The GMAT gives us very clear errors (pronouns and redundancies) in the other answer choices -- so there's no real reason to even worry about the idiom. That's classic GMAT SC: distract us with a split that doesn't matter much, while the real issues lie elsewhere. :)
avatar
B
mogarza08
Intern
Intern
Joined: 27 Dec 2015
Posts: 26
Own Kudos [?]: 13 [0]
Given Kudos: 10
Schools: Haas '20 Anderson '20 McCombs '20 Jones '20
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   26 Jun 2017, 19:00
wouldn't answer choice D and E be considered participle phrases since it contains the ,ing structure at the end? If so, wouldn't it modify the subject Geologists?
avatar
B
sambit66
Intern
Intern
Joined: 19 Feb 2015
Posts: 6
Own Kudos [?]: 5 [1]
Given Kudos: 7
Send PM
GMAT ToolKit User
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   02 Aug 2017, 11:32
1
Kudos
The first thing I realized after reading this sentence is that after "comma", there shud be somethng that modifies "changed suddenly" (how did it changed suddenly is the first question that i asked myself). So i started looking for somethng with "ing". So i directly went to 4th and 5th option. But i found "areas where" and "for holding" in option 4 as incorrect. So i went to option 5. Here also i didnt like "being". So i discared. I had taken for granted that when you try to modify preceding clause you should use "comma+ing" or "comma+with". I was confused. But anyhow i selected the correct ansr(which is "a"). But i didnt understand why a? So after thinking for some time I figured out that "at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago" is just a prepositional phrase and "from" in option a can be used to modify "changed" in the previous sentence. Is my interpretation correct ? Does this sentence give us any extra takeawy (beside the one which we know that except "comma+with" all "comma+prepositions" are used to modify somethng just before the comma? Does "comma+from" in this sentence work like "comma+with" type of sentences?).
User avatar
L
egmat
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 4349
Own Kudos [?]: 30815 [4]
Given Kudos: 637
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   02 Aug 2017, 15:04
3
Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
mogarza08 wrote:
wouldn't answer choice D and E be considered participle phrases since it contains the ,ing structure at the end? If so, wouldn't it modify the subject Geologists?



Hello mogarza08,

I am not sure whether you still have this doubt. Here are my two cents anyway. :-)

It is true that comma + shifting in Choice D and E is the comma + verb-ing modifier that modifies the preceding action.

In this case, the action that precedes comma + shifting is changed. So comma + shifting modifies the action changed and hence associates with streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa, the doer of the modified action.

Since the modification is logical and the modifier makes sense with the doer of the modified action, use of comma + shifting is correct in Choice D and E.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha
User avatar
L
egmat
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Posts: 4349
Own Kudos [?]: 30815 [1]
Given Kudos: 637
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   02 Aug 2017, 15:14
1
Bookmarks
Expert Reply
sambit66 wrote:
The first thing I realized after reading this sentence is that after "comma", there shud be somethng that modifies "changed suddenly" (how did it changed suddenly is the first question that i asked myself). So i started looking for somethng with "ing". So i directly went to 4th and 5th option. But i found "areas where" and "for holding" in option 4 as incorrect. So i went to option 5. Here also i didnt like "being". So i discared. I had taken for granted that when you try to modify preceding clause you should use "comma+ing" or "comma+with". I was confused. But anyhow i selected the correct ansr(which is "a"). But i didnt understand why a? So after thinking for some time I figured out that "at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago" is just a prepositional phrase and "from" in option a can be used to modify "changed" in the previous sentence. Is my interpretation correct ? Does this sentence give us any extra takeawy (beside the one which we know that except "comma+with" all "comma+prepositions" are used to modify somethng just before the comma? Does "comma+from" in this sentence work like "comma+with" type of sentences?).



Hello sambit66,

I will be glad to help you with this one. :-)

IMHO, your analysis is very grammar oriented and looks a little inorganic, something that you are arriving at to justify the correct answer choice.

This is how I looked at the sentence. The sentence intends to say that some streams changed from X to Y to do something. Rest everything is additional information about some entity or the other.

I also do not give undue importance to the usage of comma in a sentence. I did not in this one too. For me, the comma before form just presents the necessary pause in the sentence so that I can understand well what this long sentence is actually trying to convey.

I only went by the context and the meaning conveyed by the original sentence. I did check for the grammatical nuances, but the very basic ones, nothing too complicated. But for me, the conveyed meaning makes it clear what the sentence is all about. That's our approach at e-GMAT.

Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha
User avatar
B
rishabhdxt
Manager
Manager
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 52
Own Kudos [?]: 93 [0]
Given Kudos: 20
Schools: IIMA IIMB ISB '19
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2017, 11:12
Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa changed suddenly at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago, from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegitated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold the soil together.

(A) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold

Correct : from X to Y (parallel) ; Infinitive form "to hold' is correct

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

Change in meaning : Incorrect


(C) from the meandering shape typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

"For holding " is In correct , "To hold" indicates purpose correctly

(D) shifting from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern found in areas where it is without deep-rooted vegetation for holding

Verb -ing modifier "shifting...holding" modifies verb in preceding clause : Incorrect

(E) shifting from the meandering shape that is typical in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern being found in areas without deep-rooted vegetation to hold

Same as D
User avatar
B
rishabhdxt
Manager
Manager
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 52
Own Kudos [?]: 93 [0]
Given Kudos: 20
Schools: IIMA IIMB ISB '19
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2017, 11:23
egmat wrote:
mogarza08 wrote:
wouldn't answer choice D and E be considered participle phrases since it contains the ,ing structure at the end? If so, wouldn't it modify the subject Geologists?



Hello mogarza08,

I am not sure whether you still have this doubt. Here are my two cents anyway. :-)

It is true that comma + shifting in Choice D and E is the comma + verb-ing modifier that modifies the preceding action.

In this case, the action that precedes comma + shifting is changed. So comma + shifting modifies the action changed and hence associates with streams in the Karoo basin of South Africa, the doer of the modified action.

Since the modification is logical and the modifier makes sense with the doer of the modified action, use of comma + shifting is correct in Choice D and E.


Hope this helps. :-)
Thanks.
Shraddha




Geologist have found (something) , shifting from X to Y
This seems nonsensical .
Did geologist shift ?

Pls suggest.
User avatar
B
rishabhdxt
Manager
Manager
Joined: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 52
Own Kudos [?]: 93 [0]
Given Kudos: 20
Schools: IIMA IIMB ISB '19
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V30
Send PM
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink] New post   17 Aug 2017, 11:27
GMATNinja wrote:
Quote:
GMATNinja GMATNinjaTwo Could you help to explain the different of "to hold" (A) and "for holding" (B) in this problem?


Ziyuen, I don't think it's a major issue here. That particular part of the sentence describes the usefulness of the deep-rooted vegetation, and I don't think that "for holding" is necessarily wrong in this case. "To hold" is probably a little bit better, since "for holding" seems to imply some sort of specific design or intent -- and that's probably not ideal here. But I wouldn't automatically dismiss "for holding" in this particular sentence.

Not coincidentally, it's a non-issue in the sentence. The GMAT gives us very clear errors (pronouns and redundancies) in the other answer choices -- so there's no real reason to even worry about the idiom. That's classic GMAT SC: distract us with a split that doesn't matter much, while the real issues lie elsewhere. :)




Hi GMATNINJA

Do we have parallelism issue in option B

(B) from the meandering shape typically found in well-vegetated zones to the braided pattern that they find in areas without deep-rooted vegetation for holding


pls help
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Geologists have found that streams in the Karoo basin of Sou [#permalink]
17 Aug 2017, 11:27
 1   2   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
6923 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
238 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions